Improvements relating to tensile restraints

Abstract

A coupling device for interconnecting a tensile restraint member and a structural component, the coupling device including: a body adapted to be supported from the structural component; and a linkage having: a proximal end adapted to be rotatably coupled to the body such that the linkage or proximal end is rotationally displaceable relative to the body about a transverse axis; and a distal end configured such that said tensile restraint member is connectable thereto.

1 . A coupling device for interconnecting a tensile restraint member and a structural component, the coupling device comprising:
 a body adapted to be supported from the structural component; and   a linkage having:
 a proximal end adapted to be rotatably coupled to the body such that the linkage or proximal end is rotationally displaceable relative to the body about a transverse axis; and 
 a distal end configured such that said tensile restraint member is connectable thereto. 
   
     
     
         2 . A coupling device according to  claim 1 , including a connecting member via which said proximal end is engageable with the body to be rotatably coupled thereto. 
     
     
         3 . A coupling device according to  claim 2 , wherein the body defines a clevis having laterally spaced arms arranged to receive said proximal end therebetween, and said member defines a clevis pin configured to extend between the arms to couple the proximal end rotatably to the body. 
     
     
         4 . A coupling device according to  claim 1 , wherein the linkage and the body have respective complementary portions such that a close fit is maintained therebetween throughout a range of rotational displacement of the linkage about the axis. 
     
     
         5 . A linkage device for interconnecting a tensile restraint member and a structural component, the linkage device being co-operable with an attachment device which comprises a body defining a clevis having lateral side sections and an opening therebetween, the side sections being configured to receive a connecting member whereby said member extends across the opening and a central axis of a clevis pin thus defined by said connecting member is coaxial with a transverse axis, the linkage device being configured to define a linkage having:
 a proximal end receivable in the opening to be engageable with the connecting member, when said member is received by the side sections to extend across said opening, so as to be rotatably coupled to the body such that the linkage is rotationally displaceable relative to the body about said transverse axis; and   a distal end configured such that said tensile restraint member is connectable thereto.   
     
     
         6 . A linkage device according to  claim 5 , being co-operable with a said attachment device:
 which attachment device is suitable for use with a chain having a link at an end thereof (“end link”) and, connected to and following the end link in a direction therefrom along the chain, another link (“following link”);   in which attachment device the opening is configured to receive a free end of the end link, or an end of the end link opposite to that to which the following link is connected, whereby a pin member, when received by the side sections so as to extend across the opening such that a central axis of a clevis pin thus defined by the pin member is coaxial with the transverse axis, passes through said end of the end link, thus coupling the end link to the body whereby the end and following links are rotatable relative to the clevis about the transverse axis; and   in which attachment device the body is configured such that:   a portion of the clevis between the side sections has a configuration complementary to a configuration of the said end of the end link; and/or   portions of the side sections have configurations which are complementary to a configuration of an end of the following link via which that link is connected to said end link,   whereby there is maintained a close fit between the clevis and said chain, and/or said complementary portions, as the end link and following link rotate relative to the clevis about said transverse axis,   wherein:   a portion of the proximal end has a configuration which conforms to that of the said/free end of the end link and/or which is complementary to that of a said portion of the clevis, whereby the portions of the proximal end and clevis are complementary; and/or   portions of the linkage have configurations which conform to a configuration or configurations of a said end of the following link and/or which are complementary to those of said portions of the side sections, whereby the portions of the linkage and side sections are complementary,   such that a close fit is maintained between the complementary portions, and/or between the linkage and the body, throughout a range of rotational displacement of the linkage about the axis.   
     
     
         7 . A coupling device comprising a linkage device according to  claim 6  and said attachment device, the coupling device including said connecting member, wherein said proximal end is received in the opening and the connecting member is received by the side sections so as to extend across the opening such that the proximal end engages the connecting member to be rotatably coupled to the body via the connecting member, whereby the linkage is rotationally displaceable relative to the body about said transverse axis. 
     
     
         8 . A device according to  claim 4 , wherein said portions of the linkage comprise laterally opposed portions profiled to conform to respective laterally opposed ones of said portions of the body or side sections, whereby the complementary portions comprise the laterally opposed portions of the linkage and body or side sections. 
     
     
         9 . A device according to  claim 8 , wherein said laterally opposed portions of the linkage are profiled to conform circumferentially and transversely to the laterally opposed portions of the body or side sections. 
     
     
         10 . A device according to  claim 9 , wherein the laterally opposed portions of the linkage have convex profiles transversely, the laterally opposed portions of the body or side sections having complementarily concave profiles. 
     
     
         11 . A device according to  claim 8 , wherein the laterally opposed portions of the linkage are defined by a region or interconnection between the proximal and distal ends or respective links defining those ends. 
     
     
         12 . A device according to  claim 8 , wherein the proximal end includes a portion that is convex about said axis, such that a portion of the body which is concave about said axis conforms to the convex portion, whereby the complementary portions comprise the concave and convex portions. 
     
     
         13 . A device according to  claim 8 , wherein the proximal end comprises an edge which has a profile that is transversely convex, or which is radially outwardly arcuate, therealong, such that a portion of the body which has a transversely concave profile, or which defines a channel that is radially outwardly arcuate therealong, conforms to the edge, whereby the complementary portions comprise the edge and the portion having said transversely concave profile or defining the radially outwardly arcuate channel. 
     
     
         14 . A device according to  claim 8 , wherein the proximal end includes an aperture or bore arranged to receive said member, or a pin or connecting member, therethrough such that the proximal end is rotatably coupled to the body. 
     
     
         15 . A device according to  claim 5 , wherein the linkage is of unitary or single-piece construction. 
     
     
         16 . A device according to  claim 5 , wherein the linkage includes a ring or loop portion defining the distal end, over or around which portion a connector or fitting is receivable to connect the tensile restraint member thereto. 
     
     
         17 . A device according to  claim 5 , wherein the linkage defines opposing regions each of which has opposite faces convergent towards a plane passing through the opposing regions, such that each region is of reducing thickness in a direction towards the other, whereby respective ones of the faces of said regions to opposite sides of said plane are abuttable by respective opposing regions of a connector or fitting of/attached to the tensile restraint member, defined around the connector or fitting, upon the connector or fitting being displaced to a sufficient extent in either rotational direction about an axis which extends between distal and proximal ends of the connector or fitting and/or lengthways along the tensile restraint member and through the connector or fitting. 
     
     
         18 . A device according to  claim 17 , wherein said opposing regions or regions of reducing thickness comprise regions defined by and along opposed lateral side portions of the linkage each of which extends in a direction from said proximal end and towards said distal end. 
     
     
         19 . An assembly comprising at least one device according to  claim 1  and at least one said structural component, and including at least one said linkage, wherein at least one said body is supported from the structural component(s), and the proximal end of the or each linkage is rotatably coupled to a respective said body whereby the linkage is rotationally displaceable relative to that body about a said transverse axis. 
     
     
         20 . An assembly according to  claim 19 , wherein said at least one other component, or structure which defines or to which is/are secured said other component(s), is arranged to draw or be drawn by the at least one structural component, or structure which defines or to which is/are secured said structural component(s).